The Penthouse was founded in 1979, at 313 Central Ave. where customers had to climb 29 steps up to the salon. Fifteen years ago, the business moved to 926 Central – a few blocks from the heart of downtown. The Salon is divided into little alcoves for each stylist, giving the clients a sense of privacy. The back wall bears a colorful collection of masks Andrews and Henderson have picked in their travels. Up front, sparkling hair accessories, beaded jewelry and false hair are on sale alongside an array of Aveda hair products. The spa area includes two private rooms, one for facials and another for massaging and waxing.
The Penthouse Salon has seen a lot of fashions come and go in the last 28 years. It’s essential for stylists to keep au courant of the latest trends.
“Our business is built on happy customers,” Henderson said.
They keep up with the trends and techniques by attending a couple of industry events each year, such as the Aveda MasterJam in Minneapolis. They also bring speakers to the salon for presentations such as the recent talk, “Breaking the Rules: Hair Color 101.”
Many of the Penthouse’s employees have been with the company for more than a decade. In an industry where many stylists are contractors renting a space, Penthouse has always had regular employees. Being a part of the community has always been important to the team. Among other things, the Penthouse owners and employees have sponsored scholarships, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Project Graduation, the Great Falls Symphony and Junior League of Great Falls.
All these things play into a successful business, Henderson said, but his motto boils it down to one simple principle: “You can’t quit.”
